Among the classic cars and roadsters that occupied the Park & Shop Lot in Honesdale last Saturday, was a vehicle that would
bring back many memories for area vets: a fully restored 1943 Jeep.
Bob Sokol, Korean War veteran, took on a labor of love doing something he had never tried before, bringing back to life a
rusted relic of this trusty war horse that served the U.S. military for more than a generation.
While not part of the Penn York Rally Road Cruise that day, which brought numerous vehicles from Binghamton to Honesdale and
back, Sokol joined the display on this sunny day, showing passerby a piece of American history. The rally participants had
stopped here for lunch at the Honesdale National Bank offices.
Sokol said his son was hired to do work at an abandoned farm that had been acquired, in New York State. While there he found
the Jeep in an old shed and told his father. That was five years ago. The elder Sokol felt inspired to save the Jeep, and
taking advantage of his knack for mechanical things, brought the Jeep for $150 and brought it to his home at Sherman, in
northern Wayne County.
To help him, he had an old military Jeep manual, and obtained some advice from the New York-Penn Military vehicle Collectors
Club, which he joined.
While he did not know the history behind this particular vehicle, he learned it was a 1943 Ford GPW. the U.S. government had
the American Bantam Car Company make the prototype, and first issued a contract to Willys. Ford later was given a contract.
Sokol pointed out how Ford put their insignia all over, on the bolts, on the back of the seats, on the engine block.
It took two years for him to restore the Jeep "from ground up." While he had to obtain some parts, the Jeep is "100% percent
original," he said.
He said veterans just love the Jeep. Many have tears in their eyes and recount stories of their time in the Jeep. World War
II veterans are especially touched. Some of their memories are good, some bad, Sokol stated. An Air Force veteran, Sokol
worked in a control tower in Korea, and many times rode in a similar Jeep.
He drives the Jeep to shows as far as Honesdale, Norwich or Susquehanna, and puts it on a trailer for longer rides to shows.
Among the classic cars and roadsters that occupied the Park & Shop Lot in Honesdale last Saturday, was a vehicle that would
bring back many memories for area vets: a fully restored 1943 Jeep.
